Clemson football: Tigers spread over Yellow Jackets continues to balloon
A month ago Clemson football was installed as an 18.5 point favorite over Georgia Tech in the 2022 opener in Atlanta on Labor Day night.
Three weeks later we noted that the number was then up to 19.5 as people had a chance to choose sides.
The Tigers are coming off a 10-3 season full of injuries, in which many fans and industry experts believe the Tigers were underachievers, but you’d never know it from the way the early betting and line movement is headed.
Though minor injuries are starting to creep in, a relatively healthy Clemson team has now moved to 21 point favorites at WynnBet.
Interestingly the over/under which was previously 49.0, now sits at 48.5. That implies a final score around 35-14 in the Tigers favor.
Given the Tigers struggle to score last season and that they only scored 14 points and totaled 284 yards against a Yellow Jacket team that they had pummeled 73-7 and 52-14 in the two years prior, I see this as a curious line, but perhaps Georgia Tech is just that bad.
To be sure, Georgia Tech has struggled under Geoff Collins and enters year four with back to back to back 3 win seasons and a overall record of 9-25.
Rumors started as early as July that Collins might not make it through the season with Georgia Tech’s early schedule consisting of Clemson, Western Carolina, Mississippi, UCF and Pittsburgh. An early 1-4 record is not out of the question.
Clemson football is now a three touchdown favorite over Georgia Tech in the 2022 opener
But, we’re talking spreads here and with the offensive questions on the Clemson side, 21 points seems high at this point, but on the other hand it’s difficult to imagine Georgia Tech scoring more than 10 against a healthy Tiger defense without a defensive or special teams score.
Can the Tigers reach 31?
The early bettors though, appear comfortable with the Tigers covering as the increase in spread means money coming in on the Tigers has caused the book to increase the spread in hopes of encouraging bettors to bet on the Yellow Jackets.
Back in July, some loser projected Clemson to easily cover this spread (before he knew the spread), but when there’s potentially money on the line it’s a different animal.
Next. Will Shipley epitomizes Clemson program. dark
This game (and all Clemson games vs. FBS teams) will be part of the RubbingtheRock.com Staff Picks Challenge (or whatever we call it) coming to you soon.